Ginia



Patented Nov. 29, I898.

No. s|4,997.

E. J. SMITH.

EASY CHAIR.

(Application filed June 16, 1897.)

(No Model.)

NITED STATES FFICE.

PATENT ELDRIDGE J. SMITI-I, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SMITH FLEXIBLE CHAIR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF VIR- GINIA.

EASY-CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,997, dated November 29, 1898. Application filed June 16, 1897. Serial No.640,978. (No model.)

To all whom it 7mm concern:

Be it known that I, ELDRIDGE J. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Easy-Chairs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to easychairs, and more especially to improvements in that type of chair set forth in my Patent No. 538,708, dated May 7, 1895.

It is the purpose of this invention to improve the construction generally of my chair, whereby it will be neater in appearance and more simple and durable in construction.

It is a further object of my invention to materially improve the construction of the chair-frame, so that the parts may be readily assembled or taken apart for transportation or storage.

The invention further comprises an improved method of attaching the independent slats to the flexible strip which compose the back-section of the chair. In my prior patent, above referred to, the said slats are rigidly attached to the flexible strip, and in practice it has been found that this method of fastening is more or less objectionable, since it weakens the said strip, and, furthermore, it is very tedious and slow work to properly adjust and secure the slats to the strip. To overcome these prior existing difliculties and objections, I have now devised an improved method of connecting the slats to the strip, which consists in providing each slat with a clip or clips which loosely engage the strip in such manner that the said slats are self-adjusting and removable. It is very important that the slats should be removable, for by this arrangement it is an easy matter to replace a broken slat with a new one should the occasion arise for so doing.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described in detail and then more definitely pointed out in the claims which conclude this specification.

In order to enable others to more clearly understand my said invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a chair constructed in accordance with the provisions of this specification. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing a portion of the chair-back and the manner of connecting the slats to the flexible strip. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of one of the slats and showing also the flexible strip and connecting clips in section. Fig. 4 is a front View of one of the inner clamping-plates of the chair-frame support. Fig. 5 is an edge View of the two clampingplates, showing their connection with the chair-frame. Fig. 6 is a detail View of the clamping-plates and showing the horizontal connecting-tube as being shrunk onto a projection on the inner plate. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a modified way of attaching the seat to the chair-frame. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the lower portion of the back-supporting arm or bracket, the cap or cover for the same being shown removed. Fig. 9 is a detail view of a portion of the mechanism for retaining the chair-back in its adjusted position.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates the rockers of the chair, of which there are two, as will be understood. Rising up from each rocker in graceful curves are two metal tubes or rods 2 3, which are in turn connected at their opposite ends to the under side of the seat-support at. The two sides of the chair-frame composed by the rockers 1 and curved tubes or rods 2 3 are connected together by a horizontal tube or rod 5, said rod carrying clampingplates 6 at its opposite ends, each of which is provided with branch arms '7, the extreme ends of said arms being curved outward, as at 8, to partially embrace the said tubes or rods 2 and 3. A similar clamping-plate 9 is bolted to the outside of each plate 6, and the arms 10 of the said outer plates are curved, as at 12, to embrace the said rods or tubes 2 and 3 directly opposite the embracing portions of the inner clamping-plates 6, as clearly shown in the drawings. Thus it will be seen the parts of a chair-frame together and which construction also admits of their being easily and readily taken apart for storage or transportation. The inner clamping-plates 6 may be bolted to the horizontal rod or tube 5, as at 13, Fig. 5, or they may be provided with a boss or projection 14, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6,) upon which the tube 5 is shrunk. It will be understood that the said clampingplates are constructed of cast-iron or steel, and can be thus made "ery cheap and applied to chairs of various constructions, to settees, or other articles of furniture.

The back-standards of the chair are pivoted at 16 to the front ends of the seat-support 4, substantially as shown in my prior patent, and these standards are connected together at their upper ends by a cross head or rail 17. The arms 18 of the chair are attached to the back-standards 15 in any suitable manner.

The seat 19 is preferably composed of the spring-slat fabric heretofore patented by me and is attached to the supports 4 by means of stout springs 20, as clearly shown in Fig. '7, in such manner that it will be free to have a slight rocking or oscillating movement, which affords great comfort. The said spring 20 is coiled around two pins 21, attached to the support l, and has its opposite ends secured to the under side of the seat, as at 2:2.

The back standards are supported by bracket-arms 23, which are arranged so that said back may be adjusted to variousinclines, the adjusting mechanism being substantially that shown in my prior patent, No. 538,708, and need not be further explained. The only novel features of this part of my present invention reside in the cap-plate 24, which covers the teeth or cogs of said bracketarms, the manner of attaching said plate, and in the fact that the lower parts of the bracketarms are open, as at 26, to allow of the rod 27 being readily put into or taken out of posi tion through this open portion as required. The said cap-plates 21 are shaped as shown in detail in Fig. 8 and have their lower ends flanged or bent inward, as at 28, and each provided with two apertures 29, which take over two pins or projections 30 on the lower edges of the bracket-arms, and the said plates are secured at their upperends to the bracketarms by screws or bolts 31. These cap-plates are very desirable in that they afford protection to the clothing and prevent the latter from engaging in the teeth or cogs 24 or pinions 32, one of which latter is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in detail Fig. 9.

Referring now to the flexible back-section of my improved chair and the novel manner of constructing this part of my invention, the reference-numeral 33 indicates a flexible strip of leather, rubber, canvas, or other suitable material which is secured to the rear of the back-standards by metallic connecting-plates 34, as shown, and upon this strip are removably mounted the self-adjusting independent slats 35. These slats are each provided on their rear faces with two metallic clips 36, shaped substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and have portions 37 thereof overhanging the upper and lower edges of the said flexible strip to hold them in position, but not otherwise connected thereto. In constructing a back-section the clips are first screwed to the slats, and the strip is then threaded or drawn through the guideway formed by the overhanging portions of said clips until a sufficient width of back-section has been obtained. Then I attach to the outer edges of the flexible strip adjacent to the outermost slats two spacing rounds or blocks 38, which in turn are secured to the metal connecting-plates 3i, and the plates are then secured in any suitable manner to the rear sides of the backstandards. lVith this construction it will be seen that the several slat-s are each free to move independent of the others. They are self-adjusting and can be easily and readily removed. Furthermore, the flexible strip is not weakened by numerous piercings, which would be necessary if the slats were riveted 0r screwed thereto.

Minor changes or additions to the several parts herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It will be understood that the clampingplates and connecting-rod herein described may be employed in connection with chairs of other types, with settees, or other articles of furniture.

That I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an article of furniture, the combination with the side frames or standards thereof, of a connecting-piece arranged between said frames, a clamping-plate carried by each end of the connecting-piece, and a second clamping-plate removably attached to each of the aforesaid plates, said plates being arranged to embrace the said side frames or standards.

2. In an easy-chair, the combination with the side frames thereof, of a connecting-piece arranged between said frames,an inner clamping-plate secured to each end of said connecting-piece and embracing a portion of each frame, and a second clamping-plate secured to each of the aforesaid plates and arranged to embrace the outer portion of the chairframe opposite the inner plates.

3. In an easy-chair, the combination with the base thereof, comprising curved uprights, of a rod arranged between said uprights, an inner clamping-plate secured to each end of said rod and provided with branch arms which embrace portions of the said uprights, a second clamping-plate secured to each of the aforesaid plates and provided with similar branch arms which embrace the outer portion of the curved uprights opposite the inner clamping-plates.

4. In an easy-chair, the combination with a suitable base, of a back-section adjustably connected to said base, downwardly-extending brackets secured to said back-section, each bracket having a forked lower end and a rack, a pinion arranged to engage said rack, and a cap-plate secured to the said bracketarms and covering the pinion and rack.

5. In an easy-chair, the combination with a suitable base, of a back-section adjustably connected thereto, downwardly extending brackets secured to said back-section, each bracket having a forked lower end and a rack, a projection on each forked end of the brackets, a pinion arranged to engage each rack, and cap-plates having apertures in one end which take over the said projections on the brackets, and having their opposite ends suitably secured, substantially as described.

6. In a chair-back,the combination with the uprights or standards thereof, of a flexible strip secured transversely across said standards, and a plurality of independent disconnected slats movably connected to said flexible strip.

7. In a chair-back, the combination with the uprights or standards thereof, of a flexible strip secured transversely across said standards, a plurality of independent slats removably connected to said flexible strip by means of clips which are secured to the slats and have portions overhangin g the said strip, substantially as described.

8. In a chair-back,the combination with the uprights or standards, of a flexible strip secured transversely across said standards, and a plurality of independent disconnected slats freely and movably connected intermediate their ends to said flexible strip.

9. In a chair-back,the combination with the uprights or standards, of a flexible strip se= cured transversely across said standards, a plurality of independently movable slats freely supported upon said strip, and a spacing-block secured to the strip between each outer slat and standard.

10. In a chair-back, the combination with the uprights, of a flexible strip arranged transversely across said uprights, a metallic plate secured to each end of said strip and to the uprights, a plurality of independently-movable slats freely supported upon said strip, and a spacing-block located between each outer slat and upright, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature IVitnesses:

GEO. W. DREW, NORMAN M. GIBBINs. 

